Posts in category Ireland

Now that we’re back in the land of freedom and frappuccinos and the kind of football that requires a helmet and a 400-page manual detailing the finer points of what constitutes catching a ball, we can again celebrate one of my favorite American holidays with friends and family. But in preparing for a day of […]

With quiet villages and bustling towns, miles of country roads and paths, and a wealth of historical and archaeological treasures, County Tipperary in south-central Ireland has something for travelers of every taste. Rock of Cashel On a massive hunk of granite in the middle of the “Golden Vale” of Tipperary — a fertile stretch of […]

One of Ireland’s most-visited counties — for very good reason — is “The Kingdom” of Kerry. Dotted with historic towns and villages, Ireland’s highest mountain range, and some of the best coastal scenery anywhere in the world, Kerry should be near the top of your Ireland wish list. Killarney National Park For many, the charming town of […]

The west of Ireland is world-famous for quaint villages, the lilt of the Irish language, and spectacular outdoor beauty. You’ll find some of the best of all three in County Clare. Ennis The largest town in the county will probably be your first stop after your arrival at Shannon Airport on your way north. Take […]

If you’re coming to Dublin, especially if it won’t be your first time, consider going beyond the traditional tourist hotspots (which, in fairness, can be a blast) and experiencing Ireland’s capital city like a local. You’ll have to explain your photos (practicing the time-honored Irish art of storytelling) to your friends and family, and there will […]

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Without waiting to hear the quick sales from the row of brochure-waving pitchpeople on the gangplank, I’m smiling and grabbing every one — boat rides, bike rentals, restaurants, snorkeling adventures — doing my best impression of Will Ferrell in Elf as young, naive Buddy builds his own impressive collection of ad […]

It’s difficult to throw a stone in rural Ireland without hitting a sacred ruin — in fact, before you chuck that rock, look closely, as it might just be a piece of an old abbey or a pre-Christian stone circle. Those looking to visit such a site have no shortage of options; the country has dozens of […]

You’re a young, energetic Irish upstart in the early twentieth century, your friends have always told you you’re full of piss and vinegar. You’re probably a member of Dublin’s working or middle class. You’ve seen a lot in your twenty- or thirty-odd years of life in Ireland: political strife, labor disputes, British forces tightening the screws […]

“The old idea that a woman can only serve her nation through her home is gone.” —Countess Constance Markievicz, Irish social activist, revolutionary, and politician We are currently in the middle of a big decade for Ireland. From 2012–2022, the modern Republic of Ireland celebrates the 100-year anniversaries of the some of the most important moments […]

I’ve had some time to rest after the surprisingly strenuous climb of Mullaghmore in the Burren yesterday. The four of us — my brother, his two friends, and myself — are now at the very tippy tip of the Iveragh Peninsula, home of the famed Ring of Kerry. But we’re decidedly off the beaten track now; […]